Labour’s Darren Jones Sidesteps Ceasefire Call, Cites Election Ambitions
Sky News journalist Kay Burley pressed Labour shadow chief secretary to the treasury, Darren Jones, on why his party won’t call for a ceasefire in Gaza before the politician relented that they have their eyes firmly on the upcoming election.
During a testy exchange on Wednesday, Jones was put on the spot regarding a direct appeal from Save the Children to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak demanding an immediate ceasefire. When asked if the charity had “misstepped”, Jones attempted to deflect. He said: “I’ve not said anyone’s misstepped, Kay, and I’m not saying Save the Children… I’m not quite sure what…”
However, Burley pressed further on the matter, asking: “Should there be a ceasefire or not?”
Clearly uncomfortable, Jones said: “All I’m saying to you is that on issues of ceasefire or other issues, there are proper diplomatic groups that need to be followed for those types of discussions to happen. It’s not for MPs, such as myself, in TV interviews…”
But Burley was quick to remind Jones that he wasn’t just appearing as an MP but as a representative of the Labour Party, prompting him to show his hand.
“The Labour Party is a party preparing for government,” Jones said. “We hope that we might be in government next year, so what I say today could have implications for what a Labour government might have to do.”
The revelation seemed to confirm what critics had suspected: that the Labour Party was playing a strategic game with their responses, thinking about the future government they hope to form. The view that seems reinforced by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s trouble this week over comments made in an LBC interview questioning the legality of the siege on Gaza while maintaining his support for Israel.
In his interview with Sky News, Jones continued: “Politicians can say things very easily or share things on social media or in news studios that can have implications for that type of process.”
The politician continued to claim that he is “handling this situation in a professional way”, but critics are now questioning whether the party is more focused on the election than the immediate needs of civilians affected by conflict.
